Restrictions to Access

No restrictions. Open for research.

Copyright Notice

Copyright is retained by the authors of items in these papers, or their descendants, as stipulated by United States copyright law.

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], in the Margaret Taylor Harper papers #4496, Southern Historical Collection, The Wilson Library, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Acquisitions Information

Received from Margaret Taylor Harper of Southport, North Carolina, in October 1987 and December 1991.

Sensitive Materials Statement

Manuscript collections and archival records may contain materials with sensitive or confidential information that is protected under federal or state right to privacy laws and regulations, the North Carolina Public Records Act (N.C.G.S. § 132 1 et seq.), and Article 7 of the North Carolina State Personnel Act (Privacy of State Employee Personnel Records, N.C.G.S. § 126-22 et seq.). Researchers are advised that the disclosure of certain information pertaining to identifiable living individuals represented in this collection without the consent of those individuals may have legal ramifications (e.g., a cause of action under common law for invasion of privacy may arise if facts concerning an individual's private life are published that would be deemed highly offensive to a reasonable person) for which the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill assumes no responsibility.

Processed by: Roslyn Holdzkom, February 1988 and December 1991

Encoded by: ByteManagers Inc., 2008

Full processing of this collection has been deferred pending expected additions.

The following terms from Library of Congress Subject Headings suggest topics, persons, geography, etc. interspersed through the entire collection; the terms do not usually represent discrete and easily identifiable portions of the collection--such as folders or items.

Clicking on a subject heading below will take you into the University Library's online catalog.

• Harper, Margaret Taylor, 1917-
• Journalists--North Carolina--History--20th century.
• North Carolina Council of Women's Organizations.
• Southport (N.C.)--Social life and customs.
• University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Board of Trustees.
• Women in politics--North Carolina--History--20th century.
• Women in public life--North Carolina--History--20th century.
• Women journalists--North Carolina--History--20th century.
• Women--North Carolina--Societies and clubs.

Margaret Taylor Harper was born in Southport, N.C., 17 February 1917, the daughter of Charles Edward and Jessie Stevens Taylor. In 1937, she received her B.A. from Greensboro College and married James M. Harper, Jr., editor of the State Port Pilot. In addition to working for the Pilot, she operated the Stevens Insurance Agency, a business established in 1890 by her maternal grandfather.

Margaret Harper's interests have been diverse. She has worked in support of numerous community improvement measures, serving on many boards and chairing many committees. Among other activities, she has been secretary treasurer of the North Carolina Press Association and president of North Carolina Democratic Women, North Carolina Press Women, and the North Carolina Federation of Women's Clubs. She has served on the boards of numerous organizations and institutions, including the Board of Trustees of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where she headed several committees. She has received many service and honorary awards.

In 1968, Harper became the first woman in North Carolina to seek the Democratic nomination for lieutenant governor. She ran a strong second in that race, amassing 148,613 votes (22%) and carrying five counties.

Harper has two sons, James M. Harper III and Edward Taylor Harper, both of whom have been active in journalism.

Material in this collection reflects Margaret Taylor Harper's diverse activities, both in the professional arena and in community service. The preliminary arrangement uses Harper's folder titles. Biographical information is scattered throughout, especially in folders relating to honors and awards. Folder numbers have not been assigned at this time.